"pr. to apply the lapis Lydius or touchstone; met. to examine, scrutinize, try, either by words or torture; in NT to afflict, torment; pass. to be afflicted, tormented, pained, by diseases, Mt. 8:6, 29, 35; to be tossed, agitated, as by the waves, Mt. 14:24"
Definition and meaning
pr. to apply the lapis Lydius or touchstone; met. to examine, scrutinize, try, either by words or torture; in NT to afflict, torment; pass. to be afflicted, tormented, pained, by diseases, Mt. 8:6, 29, 35; to be tossed, agitated, as by the waves, Mt. 14:24
In the original Greek the word is written: βασανίζω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of basanizo (G928) across the King James Bible.
And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
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Common questions
Strong's G928 (basanizo) is a Greek word that means: pr. to apply the lapis Lydius or touchstone; met. to examine, scrutinize, try, either by words or torture; in NT to afflict, torment; pass. to be afflicted, tormented, pained, by diseases, Mt. 8:6, 29... It appears 12 times in the King James Bible.
The word basanizo (G928) appears 12 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G928 is basanizo, a Greek word defined as: pr. to apply the lapis Lydius or touchstone; met. to examine, scrutinize, try, either by words or torture; in NT to afflict, torment; pass. to be affl. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
basanizo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.